BEAT L.A. (The Gamethread)

VORP Speed

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Screw Soxhop and his loser poll. We need a poll to tell us everyone thinks the mighty Dodgers are going to win the WS? Just like the mighty Yankees were going to roll through the AL East? Just like the re-awakened 4 ALCS in a row juggernaut Astros were going to finish off an almost historic comeback?

You know who’s not paying attention to polls? The Rays. They have proprietary sources of intelligence, algorithms, big data and a Cray supercomputer. They can see the Matrix. Also, Randy.


This is the Gamethread.

This is the way.

BEAT L.A.
 

Caspir

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I like Mookie, I think Tampa is a shitty franchise.

If you need to muster up some opposition, I believe Boston is the only city in this millennium to win multiple major sports titles in the same year. That's something, I guess, but in general, fuck the Rays.
 

InsideTheParker

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Well, this is David v. Goliath. My heart is with David.
Betts doesn't need a ring. He has one and a gazillion dollars to keep him warm over the winter.
Geaux, pitching! Geaux, defense! Geaux, Rays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

sean1562

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I like Mookie, I think Tampa is a shitty franchise.

If you need to muster up some opposition, I believe Boston is the only city in this millennium to win multiple major sports titles in the same year. That's something, I guess, but in general, fuck the Rays.

Lakers just won the NBA championship. Doesn't matter who wins, Boston is getting some company
 
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Jungleland

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The thought of trading away the face of the franchise and watch him immediately bring a world series to LA makes me absolutely sick. Rays in 4.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Both of these teams are likeable. I just didn't want to see the Astros or Yankees here. The Astros making the WS would have been grosser than the Yankees this year IMO.

I don't care one way or the other about the Lakers or their fans.
 

VORP Speed

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World Series is back to a normal schedule with off days built-in after Games 2 and 5. So it won't be the same grind on pitching as the DS and CS. Rosters still at 28, though. You definitely don't need 14 pitchers and 13 really seems like overkill, too. Brandon Lowe has been awful, particularly against lefties with nasty breaking stuff. I hear LA has one of those. Meadows against Kershaw isn't a great matchup either. There's room on the bench for a position player that you're not necessarily relying on for much. Seems like it might be a good time to.......

FREE WANDER
 

mwonow

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Can't lie - I'm a Mookie fan first this year.

Also, if TB wins, and then TB12 starts marching in the playoffs...THREE banners in the Bay? No thanks!
 

Rough Carrigan

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I think that Tampa is both one of the best and one of the worst organizations in baseball. They are a perfect champion for 2020.
They are one of the best organizations below the owner's suite. The scumbag Wall Street Whiz kid owner who probably bought the team thinking the suckers would give him a new park can go to hell.
 

Cellar-Door

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I'm in on the Dodgers....
1. Mookie deserves it
2. The Dodgers' fanbase is pretty good, unlike the Lakers is predominately East LA latino driven loyal
3. Tampa is a team with a tiny fanbase that can't be bothered to drive across a bridge.
4. Tampa is a mistake in all ways
 

E5 Yaz

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I think that Tampa is both one of the best and one of the worst organizations in baseball. They are a perfect champion for 2020.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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I think that Tampa is both one of the best and one of the worst organizations in baseball. They are a perfect champion for 2020.
They are one of the best organizations below the owner's suite. The scumbag Wall Street Whiz kid owner who probably bought the team thinking the suckers would give him a new park can go to hell.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I would enjoy another LA world series disappointment. Honestly, I would be fine with Mookie's lone WS Championship coming with Boston.

It is sort of how I feel about Brady. Absolutely love TB, but have no desire to watch him win another SB with a team not named the Patriots.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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I have a lot of reasons to root for the Dodgers:
  1. LA was my home for a lot of the last three years and likely will be again someday. Going to Dodgers games at Dodgers Stadium is awesome.
  2. Dave Roberts. [Sorry, Mookie, I'm of a certain age and Roberts comes first.]
  3. Mookie.
  4. And what the hell, Joe Kelly. Tyler Austin is probably watching somewhere.
  5. Dodgers have much better uniforms, home and road.
  6. I feel kind of bad for Kershaw.
  7. California >>>> Florida

I have only one reason to root for Tampa Bay:
  1. The Yankees, and Yankee fans, HAAAAATE the Rays... and the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

So, it's a toss-up.
 
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Twalk

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I've lived in Dodger territory for 20-years. I can't stand their fanbase. Giant Dodger flags on people's vehicles like a trump rally. Laker fan = Dodger fan. They all bitch and whine that they lost to cheaters in 2018. They equate the 2018 Boston Red Sox to the 2017 Houston Astros. I want a walk off Game 7 Win for Tampa and generational pain for Dodger fans. Also, Magic owns 2.3 percent of the Dodgers. Fuck Magic. Win it for Larry.
 

E5 Yaz

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They are one of the best organizations below the owner's suite. The scumbag Wall Street Whiz kid owner who probably bought the team thinking the suckers would give him a new park can go to hell.
Which is why I said "one of the best and one of the worst" in my post. I hate it when people don't understand the post they're responding to ... don't you?
 

Melrose Diner

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I don't like either franchise. I really don't like Dodgers fans, and I live in a city full of bandwagoners. Sad enemy fans make me happy.

Go Rays
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Where is Tampa’s offense going to come from if the Dodgers give Arozarena the Barry Bonds treatment? Someone other than Mike Zunino is going to have to step up. I just can’t see Tampa scoring enough to win four games unless some unlikely heroes get hot all of a sudden like Washington last year.
 

InsideTheParker

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Where is Tampa’s offense going to come from if the Dodgers give Arozarena the Barry Bonds treatment? Someone other than Mike Zunino is going to have to step up. I just can’t see Tampa scoring enough to win four games unless some unlikely heroes get hot all of a sudden like Washington last year.
Margot has been hitting, too. But it's a problem. They hit more during the regular season; maybe the two-day rest will help?
 

MikeM

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Dodgers 2 to 1 favorites in Vegas.
I'm in for that

Screw LA. My laundry first mentality could care less one way or another if Mookie is now there, and I never really developed that core divisional hatred towards TB given their always present payroll handicap.

The idea of watching the small market team topple the much bigger one (that isn't us) has way more appeal to me.
 

B H Kim

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I'm rooting for the Dodgers. Their fans may show up late and leave early, but at least they show up.
 

VORP Speed

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The Umpire analytics app I just bought for $0.99 tells me that Laz Diaz is the worst home plate umpire in baseball. Good way to start by MLB.
 

Ale Xander

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Well, this is David v. Goliath. My heart is with David.
Betts doesn't need a ring. He has one and a gazillion dollars to keep him warm over the winter.
Geaux, pitching! Geaux, defense! Geaux, Rays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go David Roberts!
 

VORP Speed

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I actually think there is a chance. Obviously nobody on the outside really knows where his development is given the lack of a minor league season, but there has never been a rumor or whisper of anything other than the kid is a beast. The Rays really could use more offense and they especially could use a solid RH bat against tough lefties. DH him against Kershaw and bat him 9th. It can’t be worse than what they’re currently getting from several spots in the lineup. With the 28 roster spots, you’re not missing out on much even if you stick him as the last guy on the bench and just keep him for an emergency or a blowout or a pinch runner. Drop Tsutsugo, he’s useless anyways.

It probably boils down to how they are planning to handle his service time. If they think he’s going to be in the bigs to start next year, then put him on the roster. If they’re planning to hold him back beyond the super two deadline, then that would be tricky if he gets in the WS and gets a few hits and looks good.

It would be the most Rays move ever to call him in for offensive reinforcement and let him debut in the World Series, though, so please, please let it happen.
 

DeadlySplitter

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do it, I want to see the entertainment value either way. and as VORP said, it might be the right baseball move.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Mookie vs

Charlie Morton: .300/.391/.400
Tyler Glasnow: .333/.455/.444
Blake Snell: .304/.370/.522

And just in case Cash wants to go to Castillo in the 9th: 2-7, 2 HR

Betts is my pick for MVP.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I actually think there is a chance. Obviously nobody on the outside really knows where his development is given the lack of a minor league season, but there has never been a rumor or whisper of anything other than the kid is a beast. The Rays really could use more offense and they especially could use a solid RH bat against tough lefties. DH him against Kershaw and bat him 9th. It can’t be worse than what they’re currently getting from several spots in the lineup. With the 28 roster spots, you’re not missing out on much even if you stick him as the last guy on the bench and just keep him for an emergency or a blowout or a pinch runner. Drop Tsutsugo, he’s useless anyways.

It probably boils down to how they are planning to handle his service time. If they think he’s going to be in the bigs to start next year, then put him on the roster. If they’re planning to hold him back beyond the super two deadline, then that would be tricky if he gets in the WS and gets a few hits and looks good.

It would be the most Rays move ever to call him in for offensive reinforcement and let him debut in the World Series, though, so please, please let it happen.
This has to happen. I hadn't looked at their postseason stats together but aside from Arozarena, Wendle and Margot they are desperate for a spark and this would be perfect given the grainy Zapruder stuff of him on YT.

Speaking of Randy Of The Year, that dude can flat hit. He isn't walking, that's for sure but he still mashes his way on base. His career spans the entirety of 99 regular season ABs and 29 postseason appearances and all he does is crush baseballs. It may be a hot streak but its been across two seasons plus now and he keeps getting better.
 

VORP Speed

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This has to happen. I hadn't looked at their postseason stats together but aside from Arozarena, Wendle and Margot they are desperate for a spark and this would be perfect given the grainy Zapruder stuff of him on YT.

Speaking of Randy Of The Year, that dude can flat hit. He isn't walking, that's for sure but he still mashes his way on base. His career spans the entirety of 99 regular season ABs and 29 postseason appearances and all he does is crush baseballs. It may be a hot streak but its been across two seasons plus now and he keeps getting better.
Yeah, Randy tore up Triple A in the Cardinals system last year. He hit when he got called up by the Cards. He looked amazing in March spring training this year, he hit as soon as he came back from Covid this summer. He's got crazy bat speed. He makes adjustments. He goes to all fields. There are all kinds of Roy Hobbs legends from his time in the Mexican leagues and working his way up the minors. It's not really a hot streak at this point. He was blocked on the Cards and they chose poorly.
 

VORP Speed

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No Wander :(

They added back Phillips, dropped Alvarado and Slegers and added LHP Sherriff

Phillips is a speedy pinch-runner or OF defense replacement

Sherriff is basically a LOOGY
 
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joe dokes

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Ratto has been killing it at the Defector. I've been thinking about why baseball in late October feels so normal, yet so abnormal at the same time. (It's more than just the general abnormalcy of life at present). Ratto nails it.

https://defector.com/do-not-go-gently-into-the-football-time/

On the other hand, today was the day that the 2020–21 NBA season was supposed to start, and the ’21 NHL season would have already been two weeks and is now nervously scheduled for New Year’s Day.
No, this will be football’s time standing over a barren landscape of disappeared alternatives, and if football isn’t your thing, it looks like competitive quilting will have to be. Two months and change with only football and COVID-ravaged college basketball is not what our parents and grandparents fought two world wars to defend. Good Morning Football on a 24-hour loop on NFL Network is the equivalent of a war crime, and as for college basketball, even Jay Bilas at his most omnipresent would object to this.
In other words, savor this World Series. Feel for Kershaw as he fights the narrative that dances on his thorax. Root for Randy Arozarena as he tries to perfect his Mike Trout impersonation. Marvel at Mookie Betts making the Red Sox organization look like that of the Orioles. Hope Fox catches a few more mic’d-up players cursing like drunks in a tavern being forced to watch the debate on the TV behind the bar. Perch on the edge of your chair as Joe Buck contemplates the pregame flyover, especially if the roof in Arlington is closed. And revel in the pitching changes and strikeouts and home runs because there will be precious else.
 

E5 Yaz

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ledsox

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The Rays are a curveball hitting team. They need to create chaos for Kershaw by crushing the curveball consistently.